GB2113192A - Dispensing-containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a dispensing container comprising a wall 10, a base 13 and a top 11. The container is used in inverted condition and is closed but for an outlet 14 in the top from which the liquid can be dispensed and an inlet 18 to allow only sufficient air to bleed into the container to make up for liquid dispensed from the container so that the liquid will be dispensed from the container under constant head. The inlet comprises a tube which extends from the base 13 of the container and a one-way valve arrangement 50 close to the base of the container to permit venting of the head space through the one-way valve arrangement in the event of a pressure build up in said head space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for dispensing liquids This invention relates to a dispensing container for liquid, said container having an outlet from which quantities of liquid can flow from the container, and a compensating inlet through which fluid, normally air, can flow to compensate for the quantities of liquid which in use flow from the container.

By the use of the container, it is possible, as will become clear hereinafter, to meter the flow of the liquid from the container so that either only a predetermined amount is dispensed at any one time or the amount which flows from the container at any one time can be as much or as little as desired (up to the limit of the capacity of the container) at the particular time. This possibility of use is of great benefit to the dispensing of flavouring syrups to be mixed with carbonated water to produce carbonated beverage, which is the main application of the invention in which we have an interest. It is to be mentioned however, that whilst the remainder of this specification refers only or mainly to carbonated beverages, the invention can be used for the dispensing of liquid of any nature.

It is of course well known that when one requires to dispense quantities of liquid from a sealed vessel, or an upturned vessel, from the lower end of the vessel it is necessary that some fluid has to be introduced into the interior of the vessel to compensate for the liquid dispensed.

Thus, in the dispensing of measured quantities of alcoholic beverage spirit, such as whisky or gin, from the bottom of an inverted bottle, using what is referred to as an "optic" measuring device, when each quantity of spirit is dispensed, a compensating quantity of air is allowed to bubble up through the spirit in the bottle and make or increase the headspace above the spirit in the bottle. Automatically, only sufficient air is induced into the bottle to compensate for the volume of liquid displaced.

Apart from being expensive, optic measuring devices are usable only to meter predetermined quantities of liquid as dictated by the size of the optic chamber.

Persons concerned with the dispensing of metered quantities of syrup for the production of carbonated drinks have concerned themselves with the production of sealed packages or containers in which the syrup is contained, such containers being for attachment to a dispensing device somewhat similar to an optic measuring device in such manner to establish an outlet flow passage through which the syrup can flow to the measuring device and a venting passage whereby air can flow into the container in quantity to compensate for the liquid which is dispensed from the container at each dispensing operation.

An example of a prior art package of the nature described above is described in British Patent Specification No. 1,537,699, in which a compensating vessel seals the outlet of the container. When the container is inverted and connected to a dispensing device communication between the interior of the container and the metering device is established and there is also established communication between the interior of the compensating vessel and atmosphere. In the use of the package, because the interior of the package is sealed from the external atmosphere, and only sufficient air passes into the container to compensate for any liquid, which flows out of the container, the outflow of liquid is under a constant head.This is desirable when the dispensing of the liquid is time controlled, as the quantity of liquid dispensed per unit time will be constant, but the effect is somewhat negated by virtue of the fact that the package is used with a metering device.

The package does have the advantage that free contact between the liquid therein and the atmosphere is avoided. This is an advantage in that if there is free contact between the atmosphere and the liquid, if it is a flavouring syrup, the liquid at the surface will with the passage of time, crystalise and sugar deposits will form on the inner wall of the container. These deposits are a source of bacteria growth which is unacceptable from a hygiene point of view. The package however, suffers from a disadvantage namely that only predetermined quantities of liquid in the container can be dispensed. That is to say, whilst the package can be used to dispense the right amount of syrup to produce a carbonated drink of say one cupful, if it is desired to dispense only sufficient syrup to produce half a drink, the system cannot be used without using a different metering device.

The present invention seeks to provide a dispensing container for liquids, such as flavouring syrups for carbonated drinks, which is readily capable of being used for the dispensing of predetermined or controlled random amounts of the liquid.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for dispensing of liquid comprising a wall, a bottom and a top, the container being adapted for use in inverted condition and being closed but for an outlet in the top from which the liquid can flow under gravity and an inlet through which air can bleed to compensate for liquid which flows from the container, said inlet comprising a bleed tube extending from the bottom of the container to a position close to the top of the container, and the tube having a one-way valve arrangement in the wall thereof adjacent the bottom of the container so that, in use, air in the head space in the container can be vented through the one-way valve arrangement in the event that the temperature of the air in said head space increases, but flow of air into said head space other than by bleeding through the bleed tube is prevented so that dispensing of the liquid from the container will always be under a constant head.

Dispensing under constant head is important when dispensing takes place merely under gravity, because the dispensing rate will be substantially constant. These operating conditions are important when the liquid being dispensed is flavouring syrups for making carbonated drinks, because the ratio of carbonated water to flavouring syrup should be constant if satisfactory drinks are to be obtained repeatedly.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention in the in use position; and Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation of the container of figure 1 in the in use position but with the vent valve open.

Referring to the drawings, the Figures show a package or container for use in a machine for dispensing carbonated beverages. The machine may be for what is referred to as in-home use in the dispensing of individual carbonated drinks or it may be for use on a larger scale at locations such as sports grounds, cafeterias, public houses and offices. The container which is referenced 10 is a sealed unit and contains a quantity of flavouring syrup 1 2. The Figures show the container in the in use position in which the container is inverted relative to the position in which it will be transported.At the end 11 (the top end) which is in fact the lower end in the in use position, there is an outlet 14 from which the flavouring syrup is dispensed, and at the end 1 3 (the bottom end) which is in fact the top end in the in use position there is an inlet 1 8 through which a compensating fluid, in this case air, flows in order to compensate for the outflow of syrup from the container 1 0.

The inlet 18 consists of an inlet tube 18 which extends from the end 1 3 of the container 10 to the intertior region adjacent end 11 as shown clearly in Figure 1. The tube 18 embodies a vent valve 50 which vents the pressure in head space 40 in the container 10 in a manner to be described herein.

Adjacent the bottom of the container, the tube 1 8 has this one-way vent valve arrangement 50 in the form of a flexible flap which covers an aperture in the wall of the tube 1 8. When the liquid 12 flows from the container 10, the valve 50 remains closed as shown in Figure 1 and air is drawn into the container through tube 1 8 to compensate for the volume of liquid which flows from the container. Should the pressure in the head space 40 increase, as a result for example of an increase in the ambient temperature, gas from the head space 40 will be vented through the valve 50 as shown in Figure 2. Should the pressure in space 40 decrease, make-up air will be drawn in through the tube 1 8 so that a constant head can be maintained in the container and dispensing from the container will be under a constant head.

In the use of the container 10 it would in fact be plugged in to a plug-in connection provided on the machine which establishes through outlet 14 communication between the interior of the package 10 and a control valve of known construction, the operation of which controls the dispensing of the flavouring syrup from a discharge outlet. Liquid discharged from the outlet is mixed in any suitable fashion with carbonated water in order to produce a carbonated drink and the amount of syrup dispensed will be related to the quantity of carbonated water with which the syrup is mixed.

The metering of the liquid from the device is controlled entirely by a relatively simple valve, which can be time operated for dispensing predetermined quantities and/or manually operated for dispensing desired but random quantities. This feature is particularly suitable for in-home applications. The device can be used with flavouring syrups of high Brix number because there is no free communication between the upper level of the syrup and atmosphere such as might give rise to excessive crystalisation inside the container. The container is a relatively simple unit which can be handled easily as regards its retailing and it can be fabricated in any suitable material, such as metal or plastics.It will be filled under controlled factory conditions and the coupling part may be a one way valves which are only open when it receives a container plugged into an appropriate machine.

Adjacent the bottom of the container, the tube 1 8 has this one-way vent valve arrangement 50 in the form of a flexible flap which covers an aperture in the wall of the tube 18. When the liquid 12 flows from the container 10, the valve 50 remains closed as shown in Figure 1 and air is drawn into the container through tube 1 8 to compensate for the volume of liquid which flows from the container. Should the pressure in the head space 40 increase, as a result for example of an increase in the ambient temperature, gas from the head space 40 will be vented through the valve 50 as shown in Figure 2. Should the pressure in space 40 decrease, make-up air will be drawn in through the tube 18 so that a constant head can be maintained in the container and dispensing from the container will be under a constant head.

Increases in temperature can affect the viscosity of the syrup inside the container and therefore the rate at which the liquid will flow out of the container, if it flows out freely under gravity.

which is the envisaged operation. To mitigate against the discharge of uneven quantities of liquid as a result of change of viscosity the outlet 14 is provided with a temperature sensitive restrictor 48 which operates to restrict the flow of liquid therethrough depending upon the ambient temperature. Such restrictor could be a bi-metallic strip which deflects to restrict the outlet 14 more or less depending upon the ambient temperature.

The use of a temperature compensation device in containers is the subject of our co-pending application No. 82164551, divided out of application No. 8004468 from which this application is also divided.

The containers according to the invention are cassette type containers in that they may be removed from the machine when the contents have only been partially consumed, and their places can be taken by other similar containers, but containing different flavouring syrups, the only possible servicing required being the cleaning of control valve.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described is only an example and other arrangements are possible.

Claims (2)

1. A container for the dispensing of liquid comprising a wall, a bottom and a top, the package being adapted for use in inverted condition and being closed but for an outlet in the top from which the liquid can flow under gravity and an inlet through which air can bleed to compensate for liquid which flows from the package, said inlet comprising a bleed tube extending from the bottom of the container to a position close to the top of the container, and the tube having a one-way valve arrangement in the wall thereof adjacent the bottom of the container so that, in use, air in the head space in the container can be vented through the one-way valve arrangement in the event that the temperature of the air in said head space increases, but flow of air into said head sapce other than by bleeding through the bleed tube is prevented so that dispensing of the liquid from the container will always be under a constant head.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the one-way valve arrangement comprises a deflectible flexible flap which normaliy closes a vent aperture in the tube wall.